MAY 2, 2005

FAITH IN FICKLE FEELINGS
by George Van Alstine

A Christian writer I respect, George MacDonald, commented on the fickleness of emotion as a basis for religious belief:
“They had a feeling, or a feeling had them, til another feeling came and took its place. When a feeling was there, they felt as if it would never go; when it was gone, they felt as if it had never been; when it returned, they felt as if it had never gone.” (Anthology #351)

A Christian writer I respect even more, Blaise Pascal (1623–62), expressed a surprising alternative view:
“The reason acts slowly, with so many examinations, and on so many principles, which must be always present, that at every hour it falls asleep, or wanders, through want of having all its principles present. Feeling does not act thus; it acts in a moment, and is always ready to act. We must, then, put our faith in feeling; otherwise it will be always vacillating.” (Pensees, p. 252)

To a Christian rationalist like myself, it sounds very strange to imagine Pascal, a renowned scientist and mathematician, writing “We must put our faith in feeling.” I’ve trained myself not to trust feelings and to make sure all my decisions are based on reason instead.

And yet, I understand Pascal’s point when I think of the analogy of marriage. We might believe that a woman who marries a man simply because she’s “in love” has lost her head. She should think it through and analyze all the pros and cons. But this rationalistic process will never lead to the absolute assurance necessary to make the leap. The more she analyzes, the more confused she will be. She’ll never marry if she doesn’t trust her feelings.

In our relationship with God, both reason and feelings are at work, and in the presence of faith, they reinforce each other.

What about MacDonald’s reminder that feelings are fickle? Maybe tomorrow we’ll fall “out of love” with God. Can we base our salvation on something as untrustworthy as feelings?

Jesus, Paul, and other New Testament writers tell us that the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence makes all the difference. He is the catalyst that combines feeling, faith, and reason into a life lived in fellowship with our heavenly Father. Both of my literary mentors from past generations, Pascal and MacDonald, have important points to make in helping me remain in a continual, vital relationship with God.